Astrologer Teri Parsley Starnes welcomes you to the Starsdance. I invite you to join me in contemplating the wonder of sky and Earth. Through following the Moon, the planets, and the wisdom of the seasons and signs, my goal is to offer a useful practice of mindfulness and intention for the thoughtful seeker. Shall we dance?

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Sunday, June 21, 2015

Follow the Moon: Forecast for June 22, 2015—June 28

The recent terrorism in Charleston has revealed once again the undeniable
existence of racism in the U.S. The magnitude of the tragedy leaves me
wondering how, and if even if, to frame this event through the lens of
astrology. Astrology often gets thrown in with an assortment of “new age”
philosophies whose main intent seems to be to comfort those who need to take
responsibility and blame others who are actually the victims. We don’t need
that kind of analysis. Collectively, White people need to wake up, take
responsibility, and act with integrity to change the way things are. Astrology
can give us the context for this. It is my hope that I can use astrology this
way to help me frame current influences to develop better understanding and a
stronger commitment to making these changes. Often in this column, I am writing
for myself.

This lunar cycle, which
is rooted in the edge between Gemini and Cancer*, is about the “homing
instinct”—the need to return to our origins to find solace, self-understanding,
and connection. The Cancer “homing instinct” becomes so much more poignant when
I think of how the African Methodist Episcopal Churches have provided a home
for so many in the Black community. The massacre that happened on June 17 was
an assault on a home. (At the time of the killings the Moon was in the middle
of Cancer exactly opposing Pluto in Capricorn.) Cancer describes our roots, the
deepest influences in our lives. Seen through this framework, I realize how
deep the pain must go in the Black community and how deeply we need to look to
see the root causes of this event. Pluto has returned to the same sign it occupied
when U.S. independence was declared in 1776. Pluto’s role is to reveal and
transform hidden toxicity. Racism, which threatens everyone’s home, is being
revealed now as a toxic undercurrent of our country. A lunar cycle doesn’t last
long, but the world can change in a moment when we are ready to do so. In this
lunar cycle, we have the opportunity to re-see our connections to each other
and recommit to healing our homes.

Jupiter, Venus, and
Uranus come into a powerful relationship this week. Jupiter and Venus, both in
Leo (fixed fire), can be seen in the western sky inspiring our noble ambitions
and the feeling that even just one person can make a difference. Sadly, this
same influence was working on the killer in Charleston. It is up to each of us
to make the right choices under all astrological influences. This is why
mindfulness practices are so important for discernment and right action. Uranus
in Aries (cardinal fire) is in an empowering trine to both Jupiter and Venus
this week. This connection further inspires our desires to revolutionize the
world. Fire sparks passion and action even when we feel despairing. Leo
emphasis creates the opportunity to act big even when we feel small. We act
small when it is about ourselves and big when it is about all of us.

Pay attention to the
messages you receive this week, especially through the news media. For the
third time in the last six weeks, Mercury in Gemini (mutable air) squares
Neptune (mutable water). This signature transit of Mercury’s recent retrograde
cycle is hypnotic. It is easy to let the dominant cultural message seep into
consciousness with ways to refocus this event as not being about racism. But
this transit also helps us see beyond the smoke and mirrors. What is your heart
telling you?

Forecast for June 22, 2015—June 28

Moon in Virgo
Monday, June 22. Here’s the good and
bad news about the Virgo (mutable earth) Moon today. Helpful: It can really
help us think small but strategically about the big changes that Jupiter in Leo
(fixed fire) trine Uranus in Aries (cardinal fire) are sparking in us. On the
other hand, stronger passion for change could trigger the anxiety of perfectionism
or over-committing—Virgo’s challenge. Notice your anxiety levels. Re-center
mind and body, then try again. This Moon is stressed by Mercury in Gemini
(mutable air) and Neptune in Pisces (mutable water). The tendency may be to get
lost in the fog or forget we want to focus the helpful energy of today.
Prioritize.

Moon in Virgo
Tuesday, June 23. Here is a good
experiment for today. Question the media messages. Ask yourself, whose point of
view am I hearing? How are the messages framed as universal truths even when
they serve a particular point of view? And then, when do you want to just tune
out of all the messaging? How can you take care of yourself while staying
awake? Mercury in Gemini (mutable air) makes the third square to Neptune
(mutable water) today. This is the signature transit of the last Mercury
retrograde cycle. It is easy to fall under the spell of the message. But we’ve
been practicing re-wiring our brains, so we might have better skills at seeing
the illusions. Stand up for communications that speak to the heart but don’t
lull us to sleep again. The quincunx between Mars in Gemini and Saturn in
Scorpio (fixed water) challenges us even further to get to the bottom of words
and thoughts. The stakes feel high and we have to work at our own assumptions and
manipulations too.

Moon enters
Libra 12:41 am CDTJune 24—First Quarter Moon: Manifesting.Perhaps you’ve begun
to notice your own “homing instinct” since the New Moon of June 16. Although
the Moon was in Gemini, it was almost in Cancer at that time and we’ve been
rapidly moving toward the instinct of reclaiming our home base. This lunar
cycle is an opportunity to reconnect with home. The symbol of Home evokes a lot
in us if we slow down enough to reflect on what home means and what it gives
us. Themes of self-nurturance, care for beloveds, a nest of support, a place to
feel completely who we are—all belong to the Cancer archetype. At this phase of
the Moon, we are applying our wills to manifesting home in some way. With the
Moon in Libra, the work could be about creating a more beautiful home space.
Perhaps it is about the need for harmony in your home. What is the vibe in your
home? Empathy for self and others is enhanced by Chiron’s station retrograde in
Pisces (mutable water). This empathy extends to those without a supportive
home. Home is a place to belong. With Chiron, we might be feeling particularly
vulnerable around this issue.

Mars moves into Cancer today where it remains until the first week of
August. Mars has a complex mission in this sign, possibly provoking a mixture
of touchy defensiveness and wearing our hearts on our sleeves. Mars in this
sign can be a softy, really wanting to take care of everyone, but when a threat
is finally perceived, Mars raises the hackles like a bear. Mars helps us to
know our boundaries. With Mars in Cancer, we have the opportunity to better
know the boundaries of home.

Moon in Libra

Thursday, June
25. The fight for justice
and fairness is strong today. The Moon in Libra (cardinal air) encourages such
things and we are inspired by the Moon’s contact with Venus and Jupiter in Leo
(fixed fire) to take on the noble cause. Leo qualities are emphasized. These
are a sense of noblesse oblige mixed with child-like joy and creativity; a
desire to make an impact even if we are sparring with windmills; and a tinge of
romantic fancy that can inspire foolish but beautiful actions. Remember this
while at the same time we may be triggered by outrageous injustice as the Moon
also squares Pluto in Capricorn (cardinal earth) and Uranus in Aries (cardinal
fire). Jupiter in Leo adds an expansive influence as well. Where is your
passion leading you?

Moon enters Scorpio
12:57 pm CDT
Friday, June 26. The Scorpio (fixed
water) Moon can be good for catharsis. If you’ve been holding it together this
week, let it out today. This doesn’t have to be destructive release. With Mars
in Cancer (cardinal water) being supportive to the Moon today, chances are that
the release will be healing. Think flow, think restoration. These are qualities
that water can give us right now.

Moon in Scorpio
Saturday, June 27. Today, like yesterday,
offers more time for us to get into the flow of things. This doesn’t
necessarily mean that all will be light-hearted. The Moon in Scorpio (fixed
water) gives us permission to let those waters flow from a deep place. The
trine between the Moon and Neptune in Pisces (mutable water) could trigger a
release of grief as well as ecstatic connection. The sextile between the Moon
and Pluto encourages healing for those things we have thoroughly acknowledged
and processed.

Moon enters
Sagittarius 10:21 pm CDT

June 28—Gibbous Moon: Perfecting. A return to home base
(the theme of this Cancer-inspired lunar cycle) isn’t such a simple thing, is
it? The last few days may have felt like a deep-cleaning process for our souls.
Perhaps that is what is meant by home—a place to do our soul work. If you are
in the thick of it, don’t stop now. And if you haven’t begun to listen to your
soul needs yet, now is a good time to start. This phase of the Moon encourages
us to keep engaged in whatever is being born through the lunar cycle. Before
the Moon moves into expansive Sagittarius (mutable fire) later tonight (CDT)
take advantage of the Moon in Scorpio (fixed water), to reflect on the
relationship between soul and home. Remember that home means many things: a
place for restoration, nurturance, connection to beloveds, a place that will
support us whatever state we are in, and a link to our past through personal
and ancestral history. The aspect between Mercury in Gemini (mutable air) and
Pluto in Capricorn (cardinal fire) can be stressful but can also provoke a
deeper attention to what our souls need. Some of this soul-need may be to tell
the truth, perhaps just to yourself, perhaps to others. The Moon has a meeting
with Saturn later tonight, so don’t be surprised if there is a serious tone to
the day. Our experiences matter. Venus in Leo (fixed fire) is moving toward an
exact trine with Uranus (cardinal fire). Once again, sparks may fly as we are motivated
to create change. We reflect on relationships and our values as influences on
these changes.

*I am focusing
on intentions inspired by the cusps between signs for each New Moon this year because
the lunar cycles begin near the end of a sign until the end of the year. Read
about the beginning of the Gemini/Cancer lunar cycle on my website.

Contact Teri at
teri@starsdanceastrology.com and visit her website at www.starsdanceastrology.com to learn about booking a reading
of your chart.